• Second Chances •

12. The Real Date

Ram checked the address for the hundredth time. The bakery that was in front of him was the same as the one Priya had mentioned in her text. He still didn't know if he was doing the right thing or not. Never had he been on two dates in a single day. To think of it, Ram's last date had been the one with Vedika where she had dumped him. This couldn't be worse than that, right? 

An ache rose in his chest. Nothing could be worse than that. Those few years had to be the worst years of Ram's life. The pain he had experienced then was so paramount, so intense, that he still carried some of it around. It still made his gut wrench. The memories of what he shared with Vedika came in waves; sometimes soft and sometimes soul-crushing. Whenever he thought that he had learned to ride those waves, something or the other proved him wrong. Like now. He was here to see Priya but his heart couldn't stop chanting that he was betraying Vedika. 

Ram gripped the steering wheel of the car. He pushed the car's ignition on. He was not supposed to do that. He had promised himself and Vedika that there wouldn't be a day when he wouldn't love her. All this was madness that Brinda had started. He was not obliged to do it. 

His hand went to the gearbox and he was ready to put the car in reverse and get the hell out of there when there was a gentle tap on his car's window. Ram jumped in fright. Hand over his pounding heart, he looked out to see Priya gaze at him strangely. 

"Oh!" he whispered shakily and quickly turned the ignition off. Before she could scold him, Ram opened the door and got out of the car. 

"Hey..." he smiled at her. "I was just coming inside." 

Priya nodded mutely and started to walk towards the bakery. With no other option, Ram locked the car and begrudgingly followed her inside. 

The bakery was a small, humble place with minimal design. It carried the faint smell of fruits and vanilla. Ram found himself scanning the display counter and the specials board before anything else. They seemed to make everything. All of a sudden, his stomach grumbled. 

"Please have a seat..." said Priya while pointing at the small table and chair. 

Ram listened to hear and sat down. She awkwardly placed a glass of water in front of him and sat down on the other chair. 

"I am so sorry for leaving like that," Priya started sheepishly. "I don't know what came over me. And I am sorry for calling you here." 

"Oh no, no! Don't worry about it!" Ram tried to brush it off. Then he looked at the cakes and pastries in the display. "Plus, this is a great place to meet. There is just so much colour and sugar and tastiness around us." 

It made Priya smile. Operating purely on instincts, she got up and picked out a rainbow pastry for him. She pushed the plate towards him and said, "Here is some of that colour, sugar and tastiness for you." 

Ram's face lit up like he wasn't a full-grown man but a sweet, clueless toddler. He grinned and went ahead for the kill. Literally. Priya had to smother another smile. 

"This is so good!" Ram purred in delight. "You made it?" 

"Ah, no..." Priya shook her head. "My elder sister makes them. This is her bakery."

"Oh wow! Must be fun to have a bakery in the family. Like imagine, if you are craving some cakes, you can come here anytime!" said Ram. 

Priya rubbed her neck and pursed her lips. She had never really done that. She had never felt the need to come and have any of those cakes or cookies that her sister baked. All she did at the bakery to handle the deliveries and accounts.